Jeff Schudel: Browns' problems extend beyond Weeden

Green Bay Packers' A.J. Hawk (50) is called for a fface mask penalty as he tries to sack Cleveland Browns quarterback Brandon Weeden (3) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 20, 2013, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer)

Fans are kidding themselves and team management would be in denial if they believe a new quarterback is all the Browns need to play on the same level as the Green Bay Packers.
Brandon Weeden had another miserable game Sunday in a 31-13 loss at Lambeau Field, where far better quarterbacks never win. The Packers have won 10 straight and 29 of 31 at home.
Weeden completed 17 of 42 passes for 149 yards with one touchdown and one interception. His passer rating was a Jeff Garcia-like 48.6.
He tried another silly underhand pass, but by the time he did that only 1 minute, 49 seconds remained, and the Packers were already ahead by what became the final score. All it did was stop the clock and make the loyal Packers fans colder and soggier.
The Packers won the toss and predictably deferred to put the heat on Weeden. He responded with a three-and-out and would have had a second three-and-out on the Browns’ second possession if not for a roughing the kicker penalty on Green Bay.
The Packers, on the other hand, despite two of their top three receivers being sidelined with injuries, scored touchdowns on their first two possessions. The first was on a short 40-yard drive following an 18-yard punt return. The second was a 56-yard drive following an interception Weeden threw on fourth-and-1 from the Packers’ 37.
The play before the interception was an incomplete pass on third-and-one on a short pass to the right side intended for Fozzy Whittaker.
Davone Bess dropped a pass that would have resulted in a first down on second-and-5 on the Browns’ second possession. Josh Gordon dropped a pass over the middle in the second quarter.
If players gave more effort when Brian Hoyer was quarterback, as it appears to the naked eye, then Rob Chudzinski has a huge coaching challenge that has nothing to do with in-game strategy.
The Browns did squeeze a field goal out of the second-quarter drive, but Weeden is not good enough to overcome bad plays made around him.
The offensive line broke down inside. Weeden holds onto the ball too long, but there were times when Aaron Rodgers held the ball, waiting for his receivers to get open and he kept his feet even under a heavy pass rush.
The Browns running game is nearly non-existent, and nothing can be done about it until the offseason. Willis McGahee is too old and slow to get outside, something offensive coordinator Norv Turner hinted at last week, and behind McGahee the Browns are just trying out anybody with a pulse. Bobby Rainey was replaced by Whittaker, which pretty well sums up that situation. Whittaker rushed five times for 11 yards Sunday.
Bad teams get undisciplined penalties as the Browns did Sunday. Eric Martin committed a ridiculous unnecessary roughness penalty on a Green Bay punt out of bounds in the third quarter. Instead of starting on the Browns’ 39, trailing, 17-6, they started on their 24.
The Browns tried two onside kicks after a touchdown pass to Jordan Cameron cut the score to 24-13. They were penalized both times. Tank Carder was offsides on the first and the Browns touched the ball before it went 10 yards on the second.
It seems officials do not respect the Browns, either. On Sunday, safety Tashaun Gipson was called for unnecessary roughness when the official thought Gipson used his helmet to take down Packers tight end Jermichael Finley. Replays showed Gipson led with his shoulder.
Last week, Lions defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh went helmet-first into Weeden. He wasn’t penalized, but he was fined $31,500.
Browns linebacker Quentin Groves was flagged for roughing Matthew Stafford on what was really a textbook tackle. The NFL must have agreed, because Groves was not fined.